International applicants who are granted a non-immigrant visa to attend Salem must commit to an enrollment of at least two academic semesters (representing eight months of continuous enrollment) to be admitted and to be eligible for an international student scholarship. If an international student withdraws or transfers prior to the completion of the minimum two semesters, the student’s scholarship will be adjusted which may result in a balance owed to the school.
International Student Admissions
Salem University offers several programs available to international students. Continuously one of the most diverse campuses in the state of West Virginia and across the U.S., Salem international students enjoy the same benefits, access, and resources as domestic applicants.
Salem is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. To take classes on campus, a student must have a valid F-1 visa.
Applicants must complete the following steps prior to enrollment:
Submit Official Documentation of Prior Educational Attainment
Salem requires verification that your prior education is equivalent to the U.S. credential required for your desired program level:
- Associate degree programs: completion of secondary education (U.S. high school equivalent)
- Bachelor’s degree programs: completion of secondary education (U.S. high school equivalent) or an associate degree equivalent
- Master’s degree programs: completion of a bachelor’s degree (U.S. bachelor’s equivalent)
- Post-master’s programs: completion of a master’s degree (U.S. master’s equivalent)
- Doctoral programs: completion of a master’s degree (U.S. master’s equivalent)
This requirement can be satisfied through either of the following:
Option A: Third-Party Credential Evaluation
Submit a credential evaluation from an agency recognized by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A document-by-document evaluation is sufficient for admission purposes. A current list of approved evaluators is available at www.naces.org/members. The cost of evaluation is the responsibility of the student. No additional transcripts, translations, or notarized documents are required when a NACES evaluation is submitted.
Option B: Institutional Review
Submit the following documents directly to Salem University for internal equivalency review:
- Official transcripts from the institution where the prerequisite credential was earned, showing all courses completed, grades received, and dates of attendance
- Proof of degree or diploma completion, such as a diploma, degree certificate, or official completion letter from the issuing institution
- For secondary education: national examination results (such as O-Levels, A-Levels, WASSCE, or national Baccalaureate) may be submitted in place of or in addition to transcripts where applicable
- If any documents are not in English, a certified English translation must accompany each document
If equivalency cannot be determined through internal review, Salem may require a NACES evaluation to complete the process.
Document Timeline: Unofficial documents (student-provided copies, scanned documents, or unofficial evaluation reports) may be submitted for a preliminary admission decision. Official documents are required before the end of your first course. Official documents include a NACES evaluation report sent directly to Salem from the evaluating agency, or original sealed documents sent directly from the issuing institution.
Transfer Credit for International Coursework (If Applicable)
If you would like prior international coursework applied toward your Salem degree, additional documentation is required for evaluation by the Office of the Registrar. Transfer credit evaluation is separate from the admission process and is not required for enrollment. This requirement can be satisfied by:
- an official NACES course-by-course evaluation sent directly to Salem from the evaluating agency (a course-by-course evaluation provides the detailed breakdown of individual courses, credits, and grades needed for transfer credit determination), or
- official transcripts sent directly to Salem from the issuing institution, in English or accompanied by a certified translation, for internal evaluation by the Office of the Registrar.
Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of Salem University based on course content, level, and applicability to the student’s program of study.
Submit Evidence of English Proficiency
All international applicants must demonstrate the ability to undertake college-level academic work in English. This requirement can be satisfied by:
- a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based test (PBT) score of 500 or more,
- a TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) score of at least 61,
- an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 5.5 or better,
- a minimum score of 95 on the Duolingo English Test, or
- English3’s GATEWAY English Test score of B1+.
- This requirement may be waived for students who have completed a degree, diploma, or secondary certificate from an institution where English was the medium of instruction. Students requesting a waiver must submit an official letter from the issuing institution confirming that English was the medium of instruction.
Submit Proof of Financial Support
Verification must be provided to Salem University that the student has the necessary funds to cover the costs for one academic year of full-time study before Salem can issue a Form I-20. The financial documents must be translated to English and US Dollars before submitting (applicants can obtain this information from their financial institution), Salem will not complete the conversion. The amount of funding may vary depending upon the duration of stay. International students are required to submit an advance deposit of at least one semester’s room and board prior to enrollment. Students may enroll in classes for a full 12 months per year, which is three semesters. If a student plans to enroll for 12 months per year, they must be prepared to pay for tuition, room and board, course materials, personal expenses, and so forth, for the third semester.
Certain programs, including nursing and other professional programs, may have additional admission requirements. Please contact the admissions office or refer to the specific program page for details.
Salem supports its international students throughout their enrollment process and beyond. Salem has a team of Principal Designated School Officials (P/DSO) to ensure your international student experience and documentation is handled with care.
The P/DSO team is your point of contact to Salem and USCIS. Please feel free to contact us at PDSO@salemu.edu.
PDSO: Kathryn Elgin
Athletic Admin Office – T. Edward Davis Building (TED)
DSO: Missy Taylor
Primarily located in the Indianapolis office
